Wednesday, January 31

NW Racing sign Darren Cooper for National and International roads campaign

After a lot of soul searching, Noel Williamson Racing will be back in action for 2018, when they will have the services of Darren Cooper, who won the Lightweight Manx Grand Prix last season, and he also finished second in the Junior race, and 9th in the Senior. The Preston rider is involved in the building trade, and is the owner of several bars. He first started on a road bike at 16, but a trip to the Manx Grand Prix in 1998, saw him knocked off his bike, and injured. “The money I got from the crash saw me get a race bike, a car and trailer, leathers, boots and a helmet, and that was the start of my racing” said Darren

Early in his career, Darren has raced and scored points in British Supersport, and then decided to concentrate on setting up his businesses.” I came back with a little more money and raced in the Newcomers Manx in 2015, where I finished third, and I also posted the fastest lap in the Junior race. The following year I had a fourth in the Twin race and a seventh place in the Senior, and last year I had a First and a Second”

Darren will also bring his own 600 and 650 Kawasaki’s to the team and Noel Williamson will be providing a new BMW 1000 Superstock for the talented rider.
“I am looking forward to being back racing this year and having Darren on board. Darren certainly knows his way around the Island and it should be a very interesting year. He will have the new BMW S1000RR for the season, where we will be racing at most of the Irish national races, as well as the NW200, IOM TT and Ulster GP” said Noel.

“We hope to attend the Southern 100 and the Scarborough meetings also. I watched Darren at Skerries and at the Manx last year, and I was very impressed with his riding and attitude. In January this year we made the decision to race again. Darren is a very fast rider and we have the right team built around him. He could certainly be one to watch”

“I am delighted also to see him race on the Irish roads, where I feel that he will give an excellent account of himself. It will also be great for the fans to see a rider of his talent coming over, and I am really looking forward to seeing the bikes out on the roads this year”

The Team are delighted to have the following sponsors on board; NWP LTD, MJ DAVIDSON GROUNDWORKS, P&SL HAULAGE, BROPHY 22 CRANE HIRE, LIFELOCKEDIN,, FLUE-STOX and JMC. Jack Corry

Words and images Jack Corry

About Andy Quinn

Irish Superbike Racing is Shane Graham, Andy Quinn and James McCann with some web help from Peter Trevaskis.